Commencement Thank-You — It Takes a Community!
Many thanks to the NMC employees who made Commencement a special day for our graduates! It truly takes the NMC community to make this event a memorable one. (more…)
Student jobs – Secure a job for the summer or next fall now!
Student jobs can be found on the Student MyNMC page under “Jobs On Campus.”
Available jobs include:
- Tutor – Accounting or Anatomy and Physiology
- Hagerty Center – Server, Bartender, Cook and Dishwasher
- Fall Resident Assistant
- Summer Resident Assistant
- Summer Crew
- Groundskeeper
- Lab Assistant – Technical Division
- Astronomy Lab Assistant
- Environmental Sciences Lab Assistant
- Science and Math Office Assistant
- Financial Aid Office Assistant
Four named Outstanding Alumni
TRAVERSE CITY — Four diverse Northwestern Michigan College alumni were named winners of of the annual Outstanding Alumni award at the 2016 commencement ceremonies held April 30.
The award recognize alumni with significant professional achievements and/or exemplary leadership in the local or global community. The 2016 winners are:
Korvyn Hansen, 1985–1987: Hansen went on to earn a bachelor’s in business administration from Western Michigan University. He began his career at the Grand Traverse Pavilions 24 years ago, rising to become CEO of one of the region’s largest employers in 2008. He oversees an organization that provides services for more than 300 residents and 100 daily program participants. Also under his leadership and collaborative approach, Grand Traverse Pavilions has become a teaching facility for healthcare students from NMC.
Therese Renis, pre-engineering, 1977–1978: Renis went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Michigan and Stanford University, respectively. Since 2001 she has served as a nuclear safeguards engineer for the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, Austria. Notably, she was a member of the IAEA’s Nobel Peace Prize-winning team in 2005, a prize shared with IAEA director Mohamed El Baradei. In 2015 she was promoted to a directorship, reporting to the IAEA Deputy Director General.
Michelle Witkop, nursing class of 1977: After earning her associate degree in nursing, Witkop went on to earn multiple degrees, most recently her doctorate in Nursing Practice from Oakland University. In 2015 she was named by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as Nurse of the Year for transformational leadership, for her ground breaking research related to pain management in hemophilia patients. Witkop is the lead clinician in Munson Medical Center’s Northern Regional Bleeding Disorder Center, the only facility of its kind in the United States that is medically managed by nurse practitioners.
Capt. Dean Hobbs, Great Lakes Maritime Academy, 1976 (posthumously): Hobbs was senior captain of the car ferry SS Badger; senior trial master for the Marinette Marine Corporation, and assisted in the sea trials and delivery of many of its new vessels, including more than 25 U.S. Coast Guard cutters and U.S. Navy Littoral combat ships. Former GLMA superintendent John Tanner said Hobbs “probably helped the academy more than any other graduate,” from taking cadets to breakfast to organizing cadet-instructor hockey games.
NMC established the Outstanding Alumni award in 1988. See a list of past recipients.
Release date: May 7, 2016
For more information:
Betsy Coffia
Director of Alumni Relations
bcoffia@nmc.edu
(231) 995-2825
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY NOTICE
Northwestern Michigan College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, height, weight, marital status or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. nmc.edu/non-discriminationPress, Bensley named 2016 Faculty Excellence winners
TRAVERSE CITY — Two Humanities instructors were named the 2016 winners of NMC’s annual Faculty Excellence awards at commencement ceremonies April 30.
History instructor Jim Press is the Imogene Wise Faculty Excellence Award winner. Jim Bensley is the Adjunct Faculty Excellence Award winner. Chosen by a student selection committee, criteria for both awards include teaching excellence, rapport with students, innovation in the classroom and a sense of dedication.
Press began at NMC in 1989 and retired this year after 27 years in the classroom. He is also an emeritus faculty member. In their nominations students said:
- “This instructor offered many types of approaches to engage all learning styles. The instructor allowed for everyone to be successful in the class.”
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“The class is not easy but the instructor gives you the time, information, and resources to get an A! The classroom is interactive while the professor is constantly testing our knowledge and encouraging group work.”
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“This instructor has been one of my favorite teachers at NMC, for various reasons, but most of all because he is so passionate about the subject himself, and that made me feel more connected with the material.”
Bensley began his career at NMC in 1983 and has held a variety of positions at the college. He has been teaching since 2010, currently teaches World Cultures and Introduction to Humanities and also serves as director of International Services and Service Learning. In their nominations, students said:
- “This instructor has real life experience and a passion for what is taught which makes it more fun and easy to learn.”
- “This instructor really cares about every individual’s education. If there is something in class that you just can’t wrap your head around, he will take the extra time to make sure that you understand it.”
- “He is always coming up with new ways and ideas to better teach us the material. He would use a variety of electronic resources, along with his own firsthand knowledge, and even a range of physical artifacts from replicas and old student projects to historical objects. When we were studying Egypt, he came to class dressed as an Egyptian pharaoh!”
The Faculty Excellence award was initiated by a contribution from longtime NMC benefactors Harold and Imogene Wise in 1970 and first awarded to a full-time faculty member in 1971. The Adjunct Faculty Excellence Award was created in 1999 as a companion.
Release date: May 5, 2016
For more information:
Diana Fairbanks
Executive Director of Public Relations, Marketing and Communications
dfairbanks@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1019
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY NOTICE
Northwestern Michigan College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, height, weight, marital status or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. nmc.edu/non-discriminationSupporting the Future
TRAVERSE CITY — Supporting the Future, an event to benefit the annual John Lewis Veterans for Peace NMC Scholarship, will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. May 21 at the Dennos Museum Center.
The evening includes local photographer Alan Newton’s tribute exhibition to veterans and PTSD, local cuisine, live jazz music from the Steve Little Trio, a cash bar and silent auction. Auction items include:
- One week mountain top lodging in beautiful Sayulita, Mexico
- Museum-quality art
- Golf packages
- Charter fishing excursions
- Gift certificates from local businesses
Guests will also have an opportunity to view the current Dennos exhibitions: Not Ready to Make Nice: Guerrilla Girls in the Art World and Beyond and the Michigan League of Handweavers.
Tickets are $20 general admission, $15 for students, seniors and veterans, and available at Oryana, Grand Traverse Pie Company’s downtown location and at the door.
Release date: May 10, 2016
For more information:
Tim Keenan
Veterans for Peace
timkeenan1946@gmail.com
(231) 357-4776
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY NOTICE
Northwestern Michigan College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, height, weight, marital status or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. nmc.edu/non-discriminationSuccess Story: NMC alumna addresses University of Michigan commencement
April 20, 2016
Most college students accumulate credits to earn their degree. NMC alumna Kathryn Bertodatto also accumulated miles — 30,000, in fact.
Photo credit: Michigan Photography, Scott Soderberg
On Saturday, Bertodatto, a 2014 graduate of NMC, spoke to an audience of 50,000 as the University of Michigan’s student commencement speaker. She told the Michigan Stadium spectators, including university president Mark Schlissel and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, that she had commuted from Traverse City so as not to disrupt her young children’s education. That meant racking up some 30,000 miles in pursuit of her bachelor’s degree in English.
“The crowd erupted, and I had to compose myself,” said Bertodatto, who sometimes left Traverse City at 3 or 4 a.m. to make an 8:30 a.m. class in Ann Arbor. She packed her classes into three and a half days so she could return to Traverse City in time to pick up her sons from elementary school Thursday afternoons.
Recalling “crying in the stairwell,” Bertodatto, 31, said the transfer was difficult at first, when she felt intimidated by the intellect of her peers at the prestigious university. But by having courage — the title of her speech — she gradually gained confidence. It was all worth it, she said.
“If I’m going to work this hard to get a degree, I’m going to have it be from one of the best universities in the nation,” she said.
She credited NMC for preparing her well. During her NMC years she traveled to Brazil to teach English for a month, and also worked in what is now the office of International Services and Service Learning.
“I’m so proud of how far I’ve come, and NMC has been such a huge part of that journey,” she said, adding that President Schlissel sent her a personal email after the ceremony. “It’s amazing to have people who have such influence know my name.”
The commencement ceremony itself was a blur, both literally and figuratively, Bertodatto said, noting that it was a very windy day.
“I was trying to get my message across and not eat my hair,” she said.
A writer, Bertodatto has completed a children’s book manuscript that she plans to submit for publication. A novel is next on her to-do list. And with the odometer approaching 200,000 miles, she’s looking forward to keeping her 2004 Honda Pilot parked more.
“I need a new car, but we’re going to see how the writing pans out, first,” she said.
Student jobs – Secure a job for the summer or next fall now!
Student jobs can be found on the Student MyNMC page under “Jobs On Campus.” (more…)
Student Health Services Closes May 7
Student Health Services will be closing May 7, and will reopen Monday, August 15 at 9 a.m. (more…)
Summer Meal Plan Special at the Hawk Owl Café
Add $100 Dining Dollars to your college ID at nmcdining.sodexomyway.com/shop during May and get an additional $20 added FREE!
Summer hours for the Hawk Owl Café in West Hall are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
NMC alumnus wins WMU’s top academic honor
NMC alumnus wins WMU’s top academic honor
TRAVERSE CITY — NMC alumnus John R. Lutchko has been selected as one of only 50 students to receive Western Michigan University’s highest undergraduate academic honor, the Presidential Scholar.
The award puts Lutchko, a 2013 NMC graduate, among the most elite of Western Michigan’s 6,500 seniors. He was selected by WMU faculty as the 2016 
Presidential Scholar in Environmental and Sustainability Studies.
“John was selected from all the students in environmental studies, which includes over 150 students from two majors,” said Dr. Steven Kohler, director of WMU’s Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program. “He excelled academically, and he has been an outstanding spokesperson and ambassador for the new freshwater major, WMU and our partners at Northwestern Michigan College.”
Launched two years ago, the Freshwater Science and Sustainability program is a collaboration between WMU and NMC. Students who earn associate degrees in fresh water studies from NMC can transfer into WMU’s freshwater science and sustainability program at the University Center to earn a bachelor’s degree.
Lutchko expects to graduate from Western in August and is simultaneously working on a second associate degree from NMC, in Engineering Technology-Marine Technology.
Lutchko, who grew up visiting his family’s cottage on Lake Leelanau, has extensive experience using underwater remotely operated vehicles and numerous underwater sonar systems. During summer 2012, he took part in an internship working for the National Park Service and NMC. He currently works at NMC as the marine technology laboratory coordinator and primary ROV pilot, and he also holds the watershed technician position for the Lake Leelanau Lake Association.
In his role at the lake association, Lutchko collects and analyzes water quality data and monitors wetland permits. He plans someday to pursue a graduate degree in a water-related discipline.
“The Freshwater Science and Sustainability program has allowed me to excel in my position at the LLLA because it has not only provided me with a solid science background, but also a background in policy, economics, and sustainable practices,” said Lutchko. “There is no question the well-rounded program has made me extremely desirable in the workplace, and I have found that employers are impressed by my skill set.”
On his path toward degree completion, Lutchko earned the Marine Technology Society Student Scholarship in 2012, the Marine Technology Society ROV Scholarship in 2013 and the Hydrographic Society of America National Scholarship in 2014 and 2015.
Release date: april 26, 2016
For more information:
Hans VanSumeren
Great Lakes Water Studies Institute director
(231) 995-1793
hvansumeren@nmc.edu
WMU Extended University Programs
Tyler Lecceadone
616-776-3511
lecceadone@seyferthpr.com
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY NOTICE
Northwestern Michigan College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, genetic information, height, weight, marital status or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. nmc.edu/non-discriminationGRASP Reading and Math Summer program for grades K-8 – Register by May 2
Enhance your child’s reading and math skills over the summer with a guided at-home program to help children retain critical skills. (more…)
Student jobs – Secure a job for the summer or next fall now!
Student jobs can be found on the Student MyNMC page under “Jobs On Campus.”
Available jobs include:
- Tutor – Accounting or Anatomy and Physiology
- Hagerty Center – Server, Bartender, Cook and Dishwasher
- Fall Resident Assistant
- Summer Resident Assistant
- Summer Crew
- Groundskeeper
- Public Relations, Marketing, and Communications Student Employee
- Electronics Lab Assistant
- Astronomy Lab Assistant
- Financial Aid Office Assistant
- Science and Math Office Assistant
New books at the Osterlin Library- April highlights
The library has purchased many new books so far this new year. You can view a handful here along with partial descriptions or go here to see the full listing. These books are on display in the library’s lobby.
Success Story: NMC alumna addresses University of Michigan commencement
April 20, 2016
Most college students accumulate credits to earn their degree. NMC alumna Kathryn Bertodatto also accumulated miles — 30,000, in fact.
Photo credit: Michigan Photography, Scott Soderberg
On Saturday, Bertodatto, a 2014 graduate of NMC, spoke to an audience of 50,000 as the University of Michigan’s student commencement speaker. She told the Michigan Stadium spectators, including university president Mark Schlissel and former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, that she had commuted from Traverse City so as not to disrupt her young children’s education. That meant racking up some 30,000 miles in pursuit of her bachelor’s degree in English.
“The crowd erupted, and I had to compose myself,” said Bertodatto, who sometimes left Traverse City at 3 or 4 a.m. to make an 8:30 a.m. class in Ann Arbor. She packed her classes into three and a half days so she could return to Traverse City in time to pick up her sons from elementary school Thursday afternoons.
Recalling “crying in the stairwell,” Bertodatto, 31, said the transfer was difficult at first, when she felt intimidated by the intellect of her peers at the prestigious university. But by having courage — the title of her speech — she gradually gained confidence. It was all worth it, she said.
“If I’m going to work this hard to get a degree, I’m going to have it be from one of the best universities in the nation,” she said.
She credited NMC for preparing her well. During her NMC years she traveled to Brazil to teach English for a month, and also worked in what is now the office of International Services and Service Learning.
“I’m so proud of how far I’ve come, and NMC has been such a huge part of that journey,” she said, adding that President Schlissel sent her a personal email after the ceremony. “It’s amazing to have people who have such influence know my name.”
The commencement ceremony itself was a blur, both literally and figuratively, Bertodatto said, noting that it was a very windy day.
“I was trying to get my message across and not eat my hair,” she said.
A writer, Bertodatto has completed a children’s book manuscript that she plans to submit for publication. A novel is next on her to-do list. And with the odometer approaching 200,000 miles, she’s looking forward to keeping her 2004 Honda Pilot parked more.
“I need a new car, but we’re going to see how the writing pans out, first,” she said.
GVSU MSW Information Session April 28
Come join us and learn about the Social Work Program right here in Traverse City. This program will enhance the depth of practice, refine and shape advance practitioners. Students will be prepared to effectively intervene and acquire advanced skills in leadership. The session meets April 28, 5-6 p.m. in the University Center’s Room 13.
RC Swap Meet
On Saturday, April 23, the NMC UAS Club is hosting an RC Swap Meet where people can come buy or sell their old remote controlled equipment. The event is from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Aero Park Campus, Room 101.
If you would like to register to sell at the event, email gomez35@mail.nmc.edu.
Therapy Dogs Are Coming!
Therapy dogs are coming to Osterlin Library Monday, April 25 between noon and 3 p.m.
Take a break from reading, studying, writing and stressing.
Dominiak and Hamlet will be ready to cuddle!
Great Lakes Maritime Academy hosts open ship
TRAVERSE CITY — The community is invited to the Great Lakes Maritime Academy’s open “ship” showcasing the training ship State of Michigan from 1 to 3 p.m. April 23. The day will include:
- Guided tours of the T/S State of Michigan
- Interaction with current Maritime cadets
- An opportunity to learn more about the Maritime Academy and the maritime industry
Tours will begin at the pier security gate entrance on the north side of NMC’s Great Lakes campus, 715 E. Front St. Low-heel, closed-toe, soft-soled shoes are highly recommended. The event will occur rain or shine.
Release date: April 18, 2016
For more information:
Scott Fairbank
Great Lakes Maritime Academy
sfairbank@nmc.edu
(231) 995-1200